Girl Honored for Helping Animals

Posted onOctober 16, 2009

Jillian Margolies, 9, Niskayuna will be honored by the Schenectady County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals this evening for her generosity in putting the needs of animals before her own.

Jillian, a fourth-grader at Rosendale Elementary School in Niskayuna, asked her parents and friends to donate to the Schenectady County SPCA in lieu of giving her gifts for her birthday on Sept. 16. So far she has raised about $200.

She will be honored by the SPCA at 6 tonight at 441 New Karner Road, Albany.

“I told my mom and dad that I didn’t need any gifts, I just want to make sure that the animals have food and a warm place to sleep,” Jillian said.

Mathew B. Tully, the SPCA’s chief of department, called Jillian’s actions “impressive at any age and extraordinary at her 9 years of age.”

He said the agency has received several calls from community members who “want to follow Jillian’s lead and help us help animals. She has truly given us a gift that keeps on giving.”

The Schenectady County SPCA is a nonprofit law enforcement organization that works within Schenectady County and adjoining counties that do not have a duly incorporated SPCA to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and works to educate the public regarding state animal cruelty laws.